Washington 26 Dec: 183:

My dear Sir:

I have your letter of Saturday night — (24^th 'inst. and am glad to find the leaning of your mind, as to the question of present action or postponement, to be in the directior of my own notions . ..

In my estimates of votes I counted Findlay of Ohio as foi us — he is decidedly adverse. We have however (^en' Dun-can of Illinois our firm friend — who was considered against us — & I have reason to hope that several of those marked doubtful on my list — will be on our side . . .

I shall not consult Dallas & Wilkins as to the policy of acting now — knowing they w'¹ incline to postpone — & not wishing to ask advice, under strong probabilities of going against it. They are now well inclined to help us to votes — & Wilkins, tho' always protesting for non-commitment on the B¹' question, is, as I verily think, more warm in our cause than D—being more linked in the great points of State Interest—to wh, as he admits the extinction of the Bk' w'¹ carry a death blow. On tariff & internal improvements he is Quixotic — Dallas has a cooler head, if not heart. . . .

My yesterdays Letter gave my ideas as to the modus operand! in the H. of R. if now to go on. 1 am more in doubt as to the course in the Senate when the Bill goes up. As to Smith, after his confession to me of adhesion to Palace influence we must understand with him, in a candid & friendly way, that he must hold back, & that some other Champion must head our Column — who it ought to be is the question

— as to power of talent, we at once designate Webster

— but the name carries a deadly bearing of party feeling, w¹¹ it seems to me wd counterbalance the good we might derive from him in other respects. M^Duffie may perhaps enlighten me in the darkness in wh I confess myself now to be enveloped — & I mention the difficulty, now in time, to you, for the benefit of your views . . .

Expect, very shortly after that Conference at the Treasury, to receive my opinion as to the policy of now presenting the memorials — or waiting for a less stormy occasion. You may as well have the papers ready.